DWS780 First Day Review

[Owego]

I purchased Dewalt's 780 12" SCMS yesterday. It required no tuning:  90 & 45 degree cuts were spot on, on both left and right sides.  The standard 60 tooth, narrow blade produced smooth faces with some splintering on the exit side of the cut.  I haven't measured the bevel cut performance. 

This is not a soft start saw and it jumps on start up.  The rails glide smoothly and they hold the motor assembly rigidly.  Dust collection is very good in my configuration but I felt the need for a modification to the input end of the saw's dust chute.  When hooked up to my shop vac the  flexible dust chute collapses.  I pop-riveted a thin gauge frame (Fastcap measuring tape) to the inside of this chute to keep it open.  I also have a Rousseu (sic) dust shroud.  I didn't test dust collection with the included bag.

There is a height limiter that allows for dado  cuts.  I used it and it works well. 

There is a visual guide light to show where the blade will contact the work piece (XPS).  It's accurate within .5mm, and works on both left and right sides, basically the blade casts a shadow on the work piece.  It is controlled by a toggle switch on the handle and only comes into focus when the blade is within a couple of inches of the work piece.

The motor does not lack for power.  The table and fence provide more than enough friction to hold a work piece in place with normal hand pressure - maybe too much:  smoothly "sneaking up" on a critical cut is difficult due to the friction of the fence.  The table surfaces are flat and in the same plane. 

This saw is heavy.  This is not a problem for me as I have it for shop use only.  I would not want to lug this machine to a job side. 

I'll update if I discover anything remarkable.

Tom

Table extensions are optional.

 

[Roachmill]

Do yourself a favour and swap out the hold-down clamp for the bigger beefier Dewalt one. It drove me nuts the amount of time you'd spend cranking down on the thing... to the point of asking on here about using a Kapex clamp insteadhttp://festoolownersgroup.com/other-tools-accessories/kapex-clamp-in-a-dewalt-dws780/msg452554/

In the UK it's sold as DE7082 for the DW708 but it does fit the 780 and it is a joy to use

 

[Owego]

Do yourself a favour and swap out the hold-down clamp for the bigger beefier Dewalt one. It drove me nuts the amount of time you'd spend cranking down on the thing... to the point of asking on here about using a Kapex clamp insteadhttp://festoolownersgroup.com/other-tools-accessories/kapex-clamp-in-a-dewalt-dws780/msg452554/

In the UK it's sold as DE7082 for the DW708 but it does fit the 780 and it is a joy to use

Just received one (used from Amazon).  Much better than the virtually unusable standard Dewalt clamp.  Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[ben_r_]

Do yourself a favour and swap out the hold-down clamp for the bigger beefier Dewalt one. It drove me nuts the amount of time you'd spend cranking down on the thing... to the point of asking on here about using a Kapex clamp insteadhttp://festoolownersgroup.com/other-tools-accessories/kapex-clamp-in-a-dewalt-dws780/msg452554/

In the UK it's sold as DE7082 for the DW708 but it does fit the 780 and it is a joy to use

Oh yea! I did the same when I got the DWS780!

 

[Bob D.]

Do yourself a favour and swap out the hold-down clamp for the bigger beefier Dewalt one. It drove me nuts the amount of time you'd spend cranking down on the thing... to the point of asking on here about using a Kapex clamp insteadhttp://festoolownersgroup.com/other-tools-accessories/kapex-clamp-in-a-dewalt-dws780/msg452554/

In the UK it's sold as DE7082 for the DW708 but it does fit the 780 and it is a joy to use

That hold-down clamp is one of the best I have encountered on any miter saw. I bought my DW708 over 10 years ago and that clamp was first introduced as an accessory for that saw. I can not understand why DeWalt has no used that clamp on every miter saw they make as it is much superior to other designs. Quick to adjust and holds firmly and solid enough not to flex when you clamp it tightly. Didn't know they were still available.

 

[kdzito]

I have that clamp too and love it! It's good to know that this clamp will still fit newer saws, at least DeWalts. FWIW I have a DW706 and the Kapex.

 

[#Tee]

nice buy! i gave up on any gimmicky lasers or led lights. the most accurate is dropping the blade on the line for me.

 

[ben_r_]

nice buy! i gave up on any gimmicky lasers or led lights. the most accurate is dropping the blade on the line for me.

Same here. Everything else it just kinda close or useless. Mark your line and put the blade down on it. Nothing can be more precise than that.

 

[Steven Owen]

I purchased Dewalt's 780 12" SCMS yesterday. It required no tuning:  90 & 45 degree cuts were spot on, on both left and right sides.  The standard 60 tooth, narrow blade produced smooth faces with some splintering on the exit side of the cut.  I haven't measured the bevel cut performance. 

This is not a soft start saw and it jumps on start up.  The rails glide smoothly and they hold the motor assembly rigidly.  Dust collection is very good in my configuration but I felt the need for a modification to the input end of the saw's dust chute.  When hooked up to my shop vac the  flexible dust chute collapses.  I pop-riveted a thin gauge frame (Fastcap measuring tape) to the inside of this chute to keep it open.  I also have a Rousseu (sic) dust shroud.  I didn't test dust collection with the included bag.

There is a height limiter that allows for dado  cuts.  I used it and it works well. 

There is a visual guide light to show where the blade will contact the work piece (XPS).  It's accurate within .5mm, and works on both left and right sides, basically the blade casts a shadow on the work piece.  It is controlled by a toggle switch on the handle and only comes into focus when the blade is within a couple of inches of the work piece.

The motor does not lack for power.  The table and fence provide more than enough friction to hold a work piece in place with normal hand pressure - maybe too much:  smoothly "sneaking up" on a critical cut is difficult due to the friction of the fence.  The table surfaces are flat and in the same plane. 

This saw is heavy.  This is not a problem for me as I have it for shop use only.  I would not want to lug this machine to a job side. 

I'll update if I discover anything remarkable.

Tom

Table extensions are optional.

I have the DW 782, the 780’s cousin.  I’m surprised you’re using it to cut dado’s.  I always do Dado’s on table saw and soon on the router table. 

Get you’re a zero clearance plate from Infinity tools to replace the crappy plastic OEM inset on the Dewalt.  It’ll give you much cleaner cuts and better dust collection.  You won’t have pieces falling into the bottom.
https://www.infinitytools.com/saw-b...clearance-inserts/z-c-i-for-dewalt-miter-saws